AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTING STYLES AND ATTACHMENT STYLES AMONG CHILDREN IN LATE CHILDHOOD: CASE OF CONSOLATA PRIMARY SCHOOL, NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA by Valentine Kathambi Muriungi A thesis presented to the School of Applied Human Sciences of Daystar University Nairobi, Kenya In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in Clinical Psychology October 2022 Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy ii APPROVAL AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTING STYLES AND ATTACHMENT STYLES AMONG CHILDREN IN LATE CHILDHOOD: CASE OF CONSOLATA PRIMARY SCHOOL, NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA by Valentine Kathambi Muriungi 20-0303 In accordance with Daystar University policies, this thesis is accepted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree. Date: _______________________________ _____________________ Jared Menecha, PhD, 1st Supervisor ________________________________ _____________________ Anne Mwiti, PhD, 2nd Supervisor ________________________________ _____________________ Susan Muriungi, PhD, HoD, Counseling Psychology Department ________________________________ _____________________ Kennedy Ongaro, PhD, Dean, School of Applied Human Sciences Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy iii Copyright©2022 Valentine Kathambi Muriungi Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy 4 DECLARATION AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTING STYLES AND ATTACHMENT STYLES AMONG CHILDREN IN LATE CHILDHOOD: CASE OF CONSOLATA PRIMARY SCHOOL, NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA I declare that this thesis is my original work and has not been submitted to any other college or university for academic credit. Signed: _____________________________ Date: ___________________ Valentine Kathambi Muriungi 20-0303 Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy 5 Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The process of writing this thesis has been a journey and I appreciate the support of individuals who have supported me. Without their cooperation and assistance, I would not have accomplished this project. I would like to begin by thanking the Almighty God for giving me the courage and knowledge to carry out this study. I appreciate the hard work my supervisors, Dr. Jared Menecha and Dr. Anne Mwiti, put into helping me carry out and complete this study. My appreciation goes to my parents for believing in me and supporting me throughout my life despite the many challenges that have come my way. Moreover, I would like to appreciate my sister, Linet Muriungi, for her continued support, wise counsel, and motivation. My deep appreciation also goes to my dear husband, Dr. Isaac Kihurani, who has been my rock, mentor, and greatest support system; and my children, Nigel, Nikita and Nathan, who have given me great encouragement and drive throughout this process. Finally, I express my gratitude to my friends for supporting me and showing me that I can succeed. Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS APPROVAL ....................................................................................................................... ii DECLARATION ............................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ v TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... ix ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ........................................................................... x ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... xi DEDICATION .................................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY .......................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Background to the Study ................................................................................................ 1 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................. 11 Purpose of the Study .................................................................................................... 14 Objectives of the Study ................................................................................................ 14 Research Questions ...................................................................................................... 15 Justification for the Study ............................................................................................ 15 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................. 16 Assumptions of the Study ............................................................................................ 16 Scope of the Study ....................................................................................................... 17 Limitations and Delimitations of the Study ................................................................. 17 Definition of Terms ...................................................................................................... 18 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER TWO .............................................................................................................. 20 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................. 20 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 20 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................ 20 General Literature Review ........................................................................................... 30 Empirical Literature Review ........................................................................................ 37 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................ 38 Discussion of the Conceptual Framework ................................................................... 38 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 38 CHAPTER THREE .......................................................................................................... 40 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...................................................................................... 40 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 40 Research Design ........................................................................................................... 40 Target Population ......................................................................................................... 42 Sampling Techniques ................................................................................................... 43 Data Collection Instruments ......................................................................................... 44 Data Collection Procedures .......................................................................................... 45 Pretesting ...................................................................................................................... 46 Data Analysis Plan ....................................................................................................... 47 Ethical Considerations ................................................................................................. 47 Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy 8 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 48 CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................. 49 DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION .............................. 49 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 49 Data Analysis and Interpretation .................................................................................. 49 Summary of Key Findings ........................................................................................... 72 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 76 CHAPTER FIVE .............................................................................................................. 77 DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............................. 77 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 77 Discussions of Key Findings ........................................................................................ 77 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 85 Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 86 Recommendations for Further Research ...................................................................... 87 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 89 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................ 101 Appendix A: Research Consent Form ....................................................................... 101 Appendix B: Questionnaire ........................................................................................ 104 Appendix C: Attachment Questionnaire for Children (AQC) ................................... 108 Appendix D: Ethical Clearance .................................................................................. 109 Appendix E: Research Permit .................................................................................... 110 Appendix F: Approval From Ministry of Education.................................................. 111 Appendix G: Approval From Consolata Primary School .......................................... 112 Appendix H: Similarity Index Report ........................................................................ 113 Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy 9 LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1: Population by Gender and Class ................................................................ 43 Table 4.1: Response Rate ............................................................................................. 49 Table 4.2: Attachment Styles ........................................................................................ 50 Table 4.3: Parenting Styles Based on Factor Analysis of 21 Items ............................. 52 Table 4.4: Distribution of Parenting Styles among the Respondents .......................... 53 Table 4.5: Respondents’ Social Demographic Characteristics ................................... 55 Table 4.6: Who Do You Live With? ............................................................................. 56 Table 4.7: Cross-tabulation between Grade and Parenting Styles ............................. 57 Table 4.8: Cross-tabulation between ‘Who Do You Live With’ and Parenting Styles 58 Table 4.9: Cross-tabulation between the Respondents’ Gender and Parenting Styles59 Table 4.10: Cross-tabulation between the Respondents’ Age and Parenting Styles ... 60 Table 4.11: Cross-tabulation between the Father’s Age and Parenting Styles ........... 61 Table 4.12: Cross-tabulation between the Mother’s Age and Parenting Styles .......... 62 Table 4.13: Cross-tabulation of Father's Age * Mother’s Age * Authoritative Parenting 63 Table 4.14: Cross-tabulation of Father's Age *Mother’s Age* Authoritarian Parenting 64 Table 4.15: Cross-tabulation of Father's Age * Mother’s Age * Permissive Parenting64 Table 4.16: Cross-tabulation of Father's Age *Mother’s Age* Dismissive Category 65 Table 4.17: Multiple Regression Analysis for Socio-Demographic Predictors of Authoritative Parenting Style .......................................................................................... 66 Table 4.18: Regression Analysis for Socio-demographic Predictors of Permissive Parenting Style ........................................................................................................... 66 Table 4.19: Regression Analysis for Socio-demographic Predictors of Authoritarian Parenting Style ........................................................................................................... 67 Table 4.20: Regression Analysis for Socio-demographic Predictors of Dismissive Parenting Style .................................................................................................................. 67 Table 4.21: Correlation between Parenting Styles and Secure Attachment ................ 68 Table 4.22: Correlation between Parenting Styles and Anxious Attachment .............. 70 Table 4.23: Correlation between Parenting Styles and Avoidant Attachment ............ 71 Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy 10 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1: Conceptual Framework ............................................................................ 38 Figure 4.1: Parenting Styles Administered by Respondents’ Parents ......................... 54 Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy 11 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS APA American Psychological Association AQC Attitude Questionnaire for Children ISERC Institutional Scientific and Ethics Review Board LMIC Low and Middle-Income Countries NACOSTI National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation PSDQ Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire SPSS Statistical Package for the Social Sciences UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy 12 ABSTRACT The study assessed the relationship between parenting styles and attachment styles among children in late childhood, focusing on Consolata Primary School, Nairobi County, Kenya. It sought to determine the attachment styles acquired by children in late childhood, examine the parenting styles adopted by parents of children in late childhood, investigate the relationship between social demographic characteristics and parenting styles among parents of children in late childhood, and ascertain the relationship between parenting styles and attachment styles among children in late childhood. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design. The target population was children in their late childhood - aged between 9 years and 12 years and in grade 4 to class 7, at Consolata Primary School. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 27.0. Some of the findings were as follows: many (87.6%) of the respondents had acquired a secure attachment with their parents, 11.8% had anxious attachment, and 11.0% had avoidant attachment; and the authoritative parenting style was used by 23.2% of the parents, the permissive style by 2.7%, the authoritarian style by 73.9%, and the dismissive style by 0.6%; For the authoritative parenting style, the predictors were the age of the respondents (p=0.013) and the grade of the student (p=0.003), while for the authoritarian parenting style, the predictors were the age of the parents (p=0.002) and the grade of the student (p=0.000). Moreover, the authoritative parenting style had a strong correlation (r=0.320) with secure attachment, while the dismissive style had the strongest correlation (r=0.131) with anxious attachment, followed by the authoritarian (r=0.069) parenting style. The study recommends that the findings be communicated to parents and policymakers to make them aware of parenting styles' impact on children. Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy 13 DEDICATION To my family, you are such a precious gift to me. Daystar University Repository Library Archives Copy APPROVAL DECLARATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ABSTRACT DEDICATION